Resumes: A Web of Lies
In April 2007, the dean of admissions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Marilee Jones admitted to lying for 28 years about her academic credentials. Jones had claimed she received three degrees from New York academic institutions, while in reality Jones had never completed an undergraduate degree.
This story is just one of many to come out in the news in recent years. From RadioShack Chief Executive Dave Edmondson to Former Federal Emergency Management Agency head Michael Brown to Notre Dame Football coach George O’Leary, the misrepresentations on resumes are astounding.
It’s not just high-level executives getting caught in the act. According to a recent Careerbuilder.com survey, 57 percent of hiring managers say they have found discrepancies on an applicant’s resume. Managers have most often found that applicants have changed hire or termination dates to cover employment gaps.
With the large number of misrepresentations found on resumes, it is increasingly important to check employment references, background information, and previous work history, and verify the information on a candidate’s resume before making a hiring decision. Look for things that don’t make sense. Check academic credentials and verify hire and termination dates. Also, a thorough interview can often ferret out discrepancies found on resumes.
Checking this information can be time-consuming, so consider outsourcing it to a vendor who specializes in background checks. It may not be worth you time to call and check on a candidate, but it may worth your money to find someone to do it for you. Consider the amount of money potentially lost due to a tarnished reputation as a result of inadequate hiring practices.
Samantha Bushard is an HR employee for the Idaho office of A Plus Benefits, Inc.
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